Nortel Networks Ltd. has a new Wi-Fi partner.
Wireless LAN switch maker Trapeze Networks Inc. on Wednesday announced a deal with Nortel, which includes both a reselling agreement and a development partnership.
Through the partnership, Nortel will sell a Nortel-branded version of Trapezes switch and complementary access points and will include Trapeze technology in some of its wired products, according to officials at Trapeze in Pleasanton, Calif.
The first fruits of the OEM agreement are the Nortel WLAN 2300 series of products, which Nortel announced on Wednesday in conjunction with the partnership agreement. The Nortel WLAN Access Point 2330, the 2300 family of Security Switches and the Nortel WLAN Management Software are based on Trapezes line of products.
The Nortel-Trapeze deal follows a similar deal between Alcatel S.A. and Aruba Wireless Networks Inc. Both Nortel and Alcatel had previous OEM relationships with WLAN switch maker Airespace Inc. But in January, Cisco Systems Inc. announced plans to buy Airespace; Cisco competes directly against Nortel and Alcatel in several spaces.
The Cisco-Airespace deal is expected to close this week.